Anyone here used Forscan or a Launch/Autel type scanner to program modules on a Ford vehicle?
I've run into a snag that I don't really know how to solve. My niece has a 2014 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0L with 46000 miles that has recently developed a faulty ABS control unit. The brakes still work, but all the ABS warning lights are on on the dashboard and the digital speedometer and gauge display cluster is also disabled.
Apparently, this is a very common problem (among many others) with Ford Escape models.
However, the ABS control module (which is actually the ABS electronics combined with the brake pump) isn't available through Ford. I've checked with 14 different Ford dealerships, and all of them have a waiting list of between 100 and 300 customers for this part. The dealership local to her indicated that this has been the case for over a year, that they aren't expecting to see any anytime soon, and that they expect that the part is actually discontinued. All the online sources say they are available, but that is only until you try to order them. Then the status goes to backordered with no ETA.
So, we are left with trying to install a rebuilt unit which I can get via eBay and therein lies the problem. There are local mechanics and shops that can install the rebuilt part but who lack the equipment to program it. The shops that can program it refuse to install used/rebuilt parts, nor will they reprogram any modules they didn't install themselves. The dealership insists they "can't" reprogram a unit programmed with a different VIN than the vehicle it is installed in (which is complete and utter baloney).
So, I'm left with the only option available which is getting the module installed and then programming it myself. The current module isn't detectable due to a communications fault, so it isn't possible to save the installed module calibration files to restore to the rebuilt unit.
Forscan seems to indicate that it can program modules. If I could back up the current calibrations, I could just restore them to the new module with it. However, since I can't do that, I'm trying to figure out if it is possible to program it with a Ford As-Built calibration. I have a website where I can download one from Ford via Motocraft by vehicle VIN, but have no experience with this.
Forscan has a support forum; however, you can't register or post there without an invitation (which I can't figure out how to get).
So, has anyone else ever tried to do anything like this before? I'd even lay out a grand for a Launch or Autel tool, but don't know if they could do what I need done.
And, for those of you that are Ford owners or are thinking about buying Ford vehicles, be aware that this part shortage issue is a major ongoing problem with a lot of their older vehicles. I have an aunt with a Ford SUV that has been sitting for 9 months now waiting on a new computer module for exactly the same reason. Mechanic installed a new one, but the dealership is refusing to program it even though I've found several Youtube videos showing it is possible and how to do it. Though the first vehicle I ever owned was a Ford, this situation has completely turned me off of ever considering purchasing any type of Ford vehicles ever again.
I've run into a snag that I don't really know how to solve. My niece has a 2014 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0L with 46000 miles that has recently developed a faulty ABS control unit. The brakes still work, but all the ABS warning lights are on on the dashboard and the digital speedometer and gauge display cluster is also disabled.
Apparently, this is a very common problem (among many others) with Ford Escape models.
However, the ABS control module (which is actually the ABS electronics combined with the brake pump) isn't available through Ford. I've checked with 14 different Ford dealerships, and all of them have a waiting list of between 100 and 300 customers for this part. The dealership local to her indicated that this has been the case for over a year, that they aren't expecting to see any anytime soon, and that they expect that the part is actually discontinued. All the online sources say they are available, but that is only until you try to order them. Then the status goes to backordered with no ETA.
So, we are left with trying to install a rebuilt unit which I can get via eBay and therein lies the problem. There are local mechanics and shops that can install the rebuilt part but who lack the equipment to program it. The shops that can program it refuse to install used/rebuilt parts, nor will they reprogram any modules they didn't install themselves. The dealership insists they "can't" reprogram a unit programmed with a different VIN than the vehicle it is installed in (which is complete and utter baloney).
So, I'm left with the only option available which is getting the module installed and then programming it myself. The current module isn't detectable due to a communications fault, so it isn't possible to save the installed module calibration files to restore to the rebuilt unit.
Forscan seems to indicate that it can program modules. If I could back up the current calibrations, I could just restore them to the new module with it. However, since I can't do that, I'm trying to figure out if it is possible to program it with a Ford As-Built calibration. I have a website where I can download one from Ford via Motocraft by vehicle VIN, but have no experience with this.
Forscan has a support forum; however, you can't register or post there without an invitation (which I can't figure out how to get).
So, has anyone else ever tried to do anything like this before? I'd even lay out a grand for a Launch or Autel tool, but don't know if they could do what I need done.
And, for those of you that are Ford owners or are thinking about buying Ford vehicles, be aware that this part shortage issue is a major ongoing problem with a lot of their older vehicles. I have an aunt with a Ford SUV that has been sitting for 9 months now waiting on a new computer module for exactly the same reason. Mechanic installed a new one, but the dealership is refusing to program it even though I've found several Youtube videos showing it is possible and how to do it. Though the first vehicle I ever owned was a Ford, this situation has completely turned me off of ever considering purchasing any type of Ford vehicles ever again.
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